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ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE TOWN OF 4 GROTon new HAMPSHIRE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1997 Town of Groton Groton, New Hampshire Annual Report March 10, 1998 Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2011 with funding from Boston Library Consortium IVIember Libraries littp://www.arcliive.org/details/annualreportofto1997grot Table ofContents Town Officers 4 &5 6&7 Selectmen's Letter Warrant 8-11 Budget 12-17 1997 Tax Rate Computation by DRA 18 Town Clerk's Report 19 Tax Collector's Report 20-22 Treasurer's Report 23-26 Comparative Statement ofExpenditures 27 1997 Summary ofExpenditures 28-33 InventoryofTown Properties 34 Highway Department Report 35 Police Department Reports 36-38 Groton Fire Department Report 39 40&41 Groton Free Public Library Reports 1996 Audit Report 42-47 Report ofTrust and Capital Reserve Funds 48 Report ofCommon Trust Fund Investments 49 Vital Statistics 50 EmergencyNumbers Back Cover Town Officers December31, 1997 Moderator GeoflreyA. Gannon, 1999 Selectmen Robert L. Dcsrosicrs. Sr. , 2000 Stephen A. Pilcher, Chairman, 1998 JamesJ. Albert. 1999 Town ClerkandTaxCollector JoyceA. Tolman. 2000 Deputy Town Clerkand Tax Collector BarbaraTavares Treasurer AdministrativeAssistant Kristine Mahar, 1998 Trish M. Matthews RoadAgent PoliceChief Norman Blanchette, 1998 AnthonyR. Ricciotti Health Officer Robert L. Desrosiers, Sr., 1999 TrusteeofTrustFunds WelfareOfficer PamelaCrosby, 1999 Trish M. Matthews FireChief Deputy Wardens EmergencyManagementDirector GerardDavid Fire Warden DavidJ. Leone TonyAlbert EdwardN. Smith GarySteel Town Officers, December, 1997 Page2 Librarian Library Trustees JoyceA. Tolman JoyceA. Tolman, 2000 AssistantLibrarian PamelaCrosby, 1999 MaeBlake JeffreyLevesque, 1998 SupervisorsoftheChecklist PlanningBoard DianeM. S. Cunningham, 2000 AntonioTavares, 2000 NeldaFrisch, 1998 StephenA. Pilcher, Ex-Officio, 1998 Shirley Willey, 2002 Norman Bianchette, 1998 EbenBccver, 1998 Cemetery Trustees Norman Bianchette, 1998 Conservation Commission TonyAlbert, Chairman DeborahBethJohnson, Treasurer Krlstine Mahar. Secretary Stephen A. Pilcher, Ex-Officio Norman Bianchette NeldaFrisch Paul Morrison Shirley Willey Selectmen's Letter Dear Friends: The Board ofSelectmen would liketo begin bythanking T.L.C. Tree and Crane Service for the assistance donated the Town ofGroton in setting the trusses for the Highway Shed. Mr. Faucher spent twodays settingthetrusses with his crane. The Highway Shed is atremendous asset totheTown of Groton. For the first time, our equipment is being properlyhoused. This should go a long way in helpingto keep our equipment in good working order. Special thanks tothose who worked on the building. Additionally, the boiler was donated by Andyand Sons Plumbing and Heating, Inc. from Bristol, for which we are immenselygrateful. Thegoal in 1998 is to finish the building with the installation ofthe bathroom, vinyl siding, etc. Provan and Lorber are now entering the design phase ofthe dump site closure. Because there have been no pollutants identified in thetesting thus far, it is anticipated that an interim closurewill be possible. Thisyear as we near closure, it maybe possibleto apply for a grant to assist the Town with the expenses incurred in the actual closure ofthe dump site. ThePlymouth/Groton perambulation has been completed and a bill was passed in the Legislature ofthe State ofNew Hampshire adopting the physical monumentation as thetownline. There were discrepancies discovered in the legal description ofthe townline by B. V. Pearson Associates, Inc. when Mr. Pearson researched theperambulation. These discrepancies dated back to 1845 when landowners from onetown orthe other wanted all oftheir property in one town, and the changes theyagreed upon had not been properlydocumented. We appreciatethe efforts ofCharles Pearson in histhorough research intothe historyofour twotowns. This act ofthe Legislature must be ratified by atwo- thirds ballot vote ofthe voters present and voting in both towns. Thetown-wide revaluation has been completed. Most ofyou have experienced either an increase or decrease in assessed value foryour property. The assessing team worked diligentlyto complete this major undertaking within the time-frame allowed. Wewish tothank Scott Littlefield, Arthur Maguire, Eben Selectmen's Letter Page2 Beever and Ralph Cutting for their hard work on this important project. We now have a better idea wherethe problem areas are with our tax maps and will continue working with Don Dollard to update and improvethemaps. All lots have been renumbered and this information will be made available in the next fewmonths. The renumbering has been done to accommodate a larger number oflots in town and wehave accordinglychanged the lot number fi'om two digits tothree digits. Additionally, as lots have been added in the past, the numbering becameconfusing and disorganized. Our sincere thanks to all of you foryour patience and assistance in the revaluation. We know it was frustrating for everyoneconcerned at various stages ofthis project. TheTransfer Station/Recycling Center has had a successful year. In the past year, the metal recycling has resulted in over $1,000 in revenue being returned tothe Town. Norman Blanchette, Road Agent, has overseen the recycling for theTown and we wish tothank him for his efforts on the Town's behalf We look forward seeingyou at Town Meeting on March 10th tobe held in the Highway Shed. Respectllillysubmitted, TOWN OF GROTON BoardofSelectmen Stephen A. Pilcher, Chairman James J. Albert Robert L. Desrosiers, Sr. STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE WARRANT FOR 1998 ANNUAL MEETING OFTHE TOWN OF GROTON To the inhabitants ofthe Town ofGroton in the county ofGrafton in said State, qualified to vote in Town Affairs: You are herebynotified to meet at theGroton Highway Shed in saidGroton on Tuesday, the 10th dayofMarch, next, polls tobe open at eleven o'clock in the morning until seven o'clock in the evening for voting on Article 1, and meeting for action on the remaining articles in the Warrant at six o'clock in theevening. ARTICLE I: To chooseall necessaryTown Officersfortheyear ensuing. ARTICLE 2: To see ifthe Town will voteto raise and appropriatethesum of $252,735.00, which represents the operating budget for the ensuingyear. This sum does not include the individual and special warrant articles. ARTICLE 3: To see ifthe Town will votetoraiseand appropriatethe sum of$30,000.00 tocomplete construction ofthe Groton Highway Shed. The Selectmen recommend this appropriation. ARTICLE 4: To see ifthe Town will vote toraise and appropriate thesum of $3,000.00 for general improvements tothe ball field propertyowned bythe Hebron-Groton Athletic Association, and currently in the process ofbeing transferring tothetowns ofHebron and Groton. The Selectmen recommend this appropriation. ARTICLE 5: To see ifthe Town will voteto raise $1,000.00 forthe maintenance oftheTown House, (by petition) The Selectmen donot recommendthis appropriation. ARTICLE 6: To see iftheTown will vote toauthorize the Selectmen to appoint a needs committee oftownspeople to develop a long-term plan for the Town House and to appropriatethe sum of$2,000.00 for professional assistance, (bypetition) The Selectmen do not recommend this appropriation. ARTICLE 7: To see iftheTown will voteto authorizethe Board of Selectmen to sell or otherwise dispose oftheTown House for the purpose of expanding the Rolfe Hill Cemetery. The Selectmen recommendthis article.